Just click the link in 'red' to catch some great photos from the U15 Indoor Tournament at the Antrim Forum on Sunday 17th December. Great to see so many brave faces take on a completely new challenge and grow in such confidence throughout the day. Well done to all. Great teamwork from the Ulster Umpires and IHUA ensured that all umpires were coached and mentored throughout the day. Thank you to all involved and to Ulster Hockey for organising an excellent tournament.

The Irish Hockey Umpires Association (IHUA) remains seriously concerned about the shortage of qualified umpires and the general acceptance of this ever deepening problem. IHUA has therefore launched its 4 Year Plan, in conjunction with the Provincial Umpire Associations/Working Groups, for umpiring at both national and provincial level and this framework document provides a number of strategies for addressing the current crisis in respect of the recruitment and retention of umpires at all ages.

We recognise the substantial umpiring problems that continue to exist particularly with our provincial umpiring colleagues week to week. It was therefore vital that any national umpiring strategy had the involvement and support of our provincial colleagues and we welcome their contribution to the final product.

The strategic objectives outlined in our 4 Year Plan basically provide us with an essential foundation for moving forward with hope. However, IHUA and the Umpire Associations ...